Brothers fined for operating illicit still on farm at Appleby

Milton Canadian Champion

Time Capsules are gems of information extracted from past issues of the Champion and other publications in order to provide a window into Milton’s past.

December 1918

The latest of the illicit whiskey stills raided in Ontario was discovered last Friday near Appleby by Chief constable Smith of Burlington, and Detective Shirley, of Hamilton. It was allegedly operated by two brothers. The men own the farm on which the still was found in their dwelling. There was the usual outfit, worm, etc. In a barrel was found alcohol which tested 66 above proof, enough of it, it was computed to fill 500 bottles after dilution.

There was also a quantity of raisins, from which the liquor was being made and several sacks of sugar. How they came to be suspected has not been reported, but it may have been the buying of raisins and sugar in large quantities.

A big profit could be made with the still at $5 a bottle, which is said to be the bootlegger’s price. The value of the outfit, alcohol etc., is said to be about $5,000.

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The family of Joseph Kilpatrick have had a hard time with flu. All its members, nine, were down at once. One little girl is dangerously ill, but it is hoped she will recover.

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On Tuesday morning, the two men committed for trial by Police Magistrate Barr, of Burlington, on the charge of operating an illicit still on their farm at Appleby, were arraigned before Judge Elliot.

They pleaded guilty. They were fined $500 for both and ordered to pay $164 to the Revenue Department, double the distillery license fee and all the costs of the prosecution, a total of about $800 with six months in jail as the alternative. They were sentenced to one month each in any case dating from their arrest on Dec. 20th. They settled and were released having put in their months in jail. Their outfit was confiscated.

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Christmas was rather quiet here on account of the flu epidemic, but a number of young people came home to celebrate it. Tuesday’s heavy snowfall saved it from being a “green” Christmas, as it had been feared it would be.

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Ceil H. Earl, died on Saturday, in his 35th year. He went to the Winter Fair, Guelph, on the 9th, returned in the evening and an attack of influenza set in a few days later, followed by pneumonia.

Mr. Earl was the eldest son of Mayor and Mrs. E.F. Earl. He was born at Kilbride, came to Milton with his parents about 28 years ago, was educated and grew up here and became his father’s chief assistant.

He had been leader of the Methodist Church choir for several years, had long played one of the leading instruments in the band, he was in request as a baritone soloist at concerts, a member of the fire brigade, a number of years, and a crack curler, one of the Milton Curling Club’s skips.

January 1919

Toronto reports the average mean temperature for December to have been 31, the mildest since 1889 when it was 34. The warmest day was the 14th when the figure was 51 and the coldest the 1st, 14. The coldest December was 1876 when the mean average was 17. In 1917 it was 19.

This material is assembled on behalf of the Milton Historical Society by Jim Dills, who can be reached through the society at (905) 875-4156.